DRC audit links Perenco to environmental damage

A government audit in the Democratic Republic of Congo has linked environmental pollution in the coastal town of Muanda to the operations of French-British oil company Perenco, according to preliminary findings released by the country’s Ministry of Hydrocarbons.

The ministry said the audit identified pollution associated with Perenco’s onshore and offshore oil activities, including evidence of deteriorating air and soil quality. Officials also highlighted gas flaring near residential communities as one of the main environmental concerns uncovered during the investigation, saying the practice could have implications for nearby populations.

Authorities said groundwater samples collected during the audit are still undergoing laboratory analysis to determine the extent of any contamination and assess potential health risks. The findings remain preliminary, and the government said further scientific assessments will be completed before the final report is issued.

The audit findings were released after Human Rights Watch published a report alleging that Perenco’s operations had exposed surrounding communities to environmental and public health hazards.

Perenco rejected the allegations, stating that claims of air, water and soil pollution were not supported by independently verifiable technical evidence. The company also said it had not yet received the government’s final audit report and maintained that any conclusions drawn before its publication were premature.

The audit, launched in 2024, is being conducted by an international consultancy working alongside a government task force. Officials have not announced when the final report will be released. The Ministry of Hydrocarbons said responsibility for any confirmed environmental damage would be determined after the investigation, with remediation measures and penalties applied where required under Congolese law.

SOURCE: Reuters